Controlling system



L. DE MAR KUS. CONTROLLING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED OCL ZQ. 192l- Patentad Sept. 26

1922. 4 SNEETS-SHEET I.

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'MQKZ/ Oba DE MARKUS.

CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29, I921.

Patented Sept. 26, 1922.

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INVENTOR fling ?///7////////// 4//////% 2 Ill L. DE MARKUS.

CONTROLLING SYSTEM. APPLICAIION mgn OCT. 29, 1921.

Z INVENTOR L. DE MARKUS.

CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION mzo ocr. 29, I92].

Patented Sept. 26, 1922.

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lNVENTOR Patented Sept. 26, 1922.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE".

LOUIS nit Maniacs, or MoNTnosn, PENNSYLVANI, AssIGNoItToMcKENNA BRASS &

MANUFACTURING ooMPA Y, me, or ,m'r'rsBnRGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- 'rroN OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

Application filed October 29,1921. :SerialN'o. 511,412.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUISDE Marines a citizen of the United States, residing in Montrose, 1n the county of Allegheny and State of .lennsylvania, have mventcd a new and useful Improvement in Controlling Systems, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exactdescription. Y 1

The present invention relatesbroadly to controlling systems, :and more particularly to a system of: this type adapted for con trolling elevators. 1

Heretofore in the .art to which tljiis in. vention relates. it has been customary to provide'for automatic control of elevators bycomplicated electric systems, usuallyre In still other forms or controlling sys terns for elevators the cages have been pro-.

vided with devicesadapted to be manually set. ,Thesedevices in turnwere adapted to control floor switches. In such algconstruction it has been necessary tobring theucar to the particular floor on which the operator was located, and then set one olisa-iddevices for stopping the cage. at the1desired floor.

By the present invention there is provided a system of elevator controladapt'ed particularly to dumb waiters, although it might be used for general passenger or.

freight service, which requires no electric connections w th the cage itseit. I

The presentinvention also provides what may be termed an outside control "for the e.. means for controlling the elevator, i. floor-switches independently of the cageih self. This enables the elevator to be controlled from any floor at will. i

whereby all said devices may operate a single circuit making ClGVl/SG. "With. such a system the interlock prevents the simultane- Such connections, are costly.

ous setting ofthe different controlling de vicesin different positions and enables the position of the cage to be easily ascertained. 1 The foregoing and other objects of the present invention, together with their attendant advantages, will be readily understood from the accompanying specification and drawings forming a part thereof; it being understood that changes may be made in the construction, arrangement and operationof the various parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the'broader claims.

In thedrawings, which are illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present in-' vention: T

Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustratin'g the electrical connections and the development of the switch drum,

1 Figure 2 is an end elevation of one of the controllingdevices, suchas provided for .Figure 3 is a transversesectional view through a portion of the elevator shalt,

Figure 4' 11S avertlcal sectional view on the line IV-JV of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectionalrview through the switch drum,

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line VI-VI of Figure 5, and

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating amodified system of electrical connections which may be utilized with a switch drum independently of the mechanical in terlock- 1 y Fig.8 is a view similarto Fig. 2, showing a different number of floors.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 to 6 of the 'drawinga'there is illustrated an elevator shaft 2, for the elevator cage *3. The shaft is provided with the usual guide rails 4L for the elevator, and supplemental guide rails-5 forthe counter-weight 6. 1

1 Extending vertically of the elevator shaft is an angular shaft 7-, illustrated as square in the drawings, although the exact cross sectional shape is not material. Slightly above each floor level at which the. cage is In addition, myinvention provides a me chanical interloclrbetween the various con trolling devices on the. different. floors;

adapted to stop, there is secured to the walls of the shaft a bracket 8. These brackets are each formed with lower bearing 9, for the hub 10 of aspiral gear 11 and with a removable bushing 12. permitting the proper mounting of the spiral gearll and. serving as bearings for the hub portion 13, which may be formed integral with and projectino from the opposite sides of the gears 11.

ournaled at one end in each of the brackets 8 and at its opposite end in the door framing 14 is a transversely extending shaft 15. Carried on the shafts 15 in co-operative engagement with the spiral gear 11, are spiral gears 16. The outer ends of the shafts 15 are extended through the door framing any desired distance above the floor levels, depending upon the position of the brackets 8, and provided with handles 17 and index pointers 18 co-operating with dials 19, each of the dials bearing suitable indicia designating the direction and extent of movement required to effect the desired movement of the elevator.

The dials 19 at each of the floors, together with their co-operating mechanism constitute controlling devices for the elevator. It will be understood that due to the provisions of the angular interlocking shaft 7, movement of any one of the controlling handles 17 effects a simultaneous and corresponding movement of the other handles. This prevents the simultaneous setting of handles of different floors at different positions and also enables an occupant of the building to determine the position of the elevator cage at any time by merely noting the position of the pointer 18 on his particular floor.

The lower end of the shaft 7 may have secured thereto in any desired manner, a main circuit controlling device. In the present embodiment of my invention the shaft 7 is illustrated as having secured to its lower end an extension 20. This extension carries heads 21 secured thereto in spaced relation and supporting a switch drum 22. The switch drum is provided with a series of contact segments and a series of brushes co-opcrating therewith, as described in detail hereinafter. This entire mechanism is mounted within a controlling casing 23.

Referring more particularly to Figure l of the drawings, there are illustrated the phase wires (5, Z), and c of a three phase current. Interposed at any desired point in this power line is a three-pole switch 24, normally held in open or inoperative position by a spring 25. The switch is adapted to be moved to closed or operative position by an electromagnetic device 26, the armature 27 of which is connected to each of the poles of the switch.

The wires a, b, and c are connected to the brushes (1., and 0' respectively of the switch drum 22, illustrated in development, in this figure of the drawings. (Jo-operating with these three brushes are brushes [11 b and 0 connected with the corresponding phase wires (2., b, and 0 leading to the elevator operating motor M. Each of these brushes, as shown for example in Figure 6,

may comprise a suitable conducting body secured to the insulating support 28 by fastening device 28 adapted to have one of the phase wires attached thereto. One of the fastening devices for each of the brushes may be provided with resilient means 28 for holding the brushes in operative engagement with the drum 22.

Carried on the drum 22 in alinement with each of the brushes are spaced contact segments. On one side of the line of contact of the heretofore described brushes with the drum, are segments 29 and 29, adapted to be engaged by the brushes a and a respectively; segments 29 and 29 adapted to be engaged by brushes 6 and b respectively; and segments 30 and 30 adapted to be engaged by the brushes 0 and 0 respectively. The pairs of segments 29-29, 29 29 and 3030 each have a short circuiting connection 31. On the opposite side of the line of contact of the heretofore described brushes with the drum, are segments 32 and 32 adapted to be engaged by the brushes a. and a respectively; segments 33 and 33 adapted to be engaged by the brushes L and 0 respectively and segments 34 and 3 1' adapted to be engaged by the brushes 0 and 1/ respectively. The pairs of segments 32-- 32 3383 and 3434 each have a short circuiting connection 35.

At each of the floor levels at which the elevator is adapted to stop there is a safety gate 36. lVhen in open position these gates are adapted to open their respective floor switches F, F F F, or F etc., according to the number of floors. These switches are operated in any well known manner by the gates.

At each of the floor levels with the exception of the first and last, there is provided a switch 2', 3 or 4 etc.. according to the number of floors. These switches are adapted normally to remain in closed position but are moved to open position by the projection 37 on the elevator cage, each time it reaches or passes the same. Beyond the first and last floors there may be provided limit safety switches 38.

All of the switches F, F F F and F etc. 2, 3, 4 etc., and 38 are connected in a common circuit 39 in series with each other and with the electromagnetic device 26. The circuit 39 may receive current from the power line by tapping the phase wires (4 and b, for example. By reason of this construction it will be apparent that the circuit to the electromagnetic device 26 is closed when all of the switches in circuit therewith are in closed position. At this time the switch 24 will be moved to closed position against the action of its spring 25.

At the first and last floors the shafts 15 may be provided with crank arms 40 and 41 respectively, each carrying a roller 42. The

crank arms are arrangedonlthese shafts 15 at an angle of 180? to each other, as in the particular embodiment in the invention illustrated, the controlling handles 17 have a range or" movement through 180.

cam 43 on the cage each time the cage reaches the first or last floor.

Connected with the circuit 39 on opposite sides of the switch 2 for the second floor, are wires 44 and 45. In like manner wires and 46 connect with the circuit 39 on opposite sides of the switch 3 for the third floor, and Wires 46 and 47 connect with the circuit 39 on opposite sidesot' the switch 4 for the fourth floor. These connections 44, 45. 46 and 47 lead to brushes 44, 45, 46 47 respectively, corresponding in construction to the brushes heretofore described.

Secured to the drum 22 on one side of the diagonal line ofcontact of the brushes 44 45, 46 and 47 therewith, are segments 48, 49, and 51, having a common shortycircuiting connection 52. On the opposite side of said diagonal line 0t contact segments 53, 54, and 56 hm inga common short circuiting connection 57.

. Co-operating with the motor M for stopping rotation thereof andholding the elevator in position, is a brake device comprising a drum 5S and two pivotally mounted brake-shoes 59. The brake-shoes are normally urged against the drum by heavy compression springs 60, but are adapted to be moved to inoperative position by a wedge member 61. when moved upwardly relatively thereto. This wedge member is operatively connected to the core 62 ot a solenoid 63 receiving current when the motor is running, from phase wires (wand b.

The operation of the present system is as "Follows: Assuming the elevator is at the first floor and an occupant on the fifth lioor desires tobring the cage to that floor. He will move the handle 17 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure2, until the pointer 18 registers with the indicia designating the fifth floor. This will rotate the drum 22 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 6, bringing the segments 48, 49,

50 and 51 into engagement with the brushes 47, 46, 45, and 44 respectively, thereby shunting all of the switches 2, 3 and 4 through the short circuiting connection 52.

It allot the gates are closed, the electro-.

magnetic device 26 will be energized. thereby closing the switch 24. The rotation of the drum 22, relative to the fixed brushes, will also have brought the segments 29, 29, 29 29 30 and 30 'into engagement with the brushes a 6, b 0 and c respectively. This will connectthe phase wires (1,?) and 0 with the motor wires a, b, and 0 through the short circuiting connection 35,

thereby energizing the motor and releasing The .rollers 42 are adapted to be engaged by the the brake. The cage will accordingly start upwardly. As it reaches each floor, the projection37 thereon will successively open. the switches 2, 3 and 4. As all of these switches are short circuited, however, the

circuit for the electromagnetic device 26 will not be broken. When the elevator cage reaches the fifth floor the cam 43 thereon will engagethe roller 42 onthe-cranlr arm 41 and move it from its dotted line position of Figure 4 to its full-line 'iosition. This will automatically and simultaneously, turn allot the pointers 18 to their neutral position thereby moving the drum 22 to its neutral position and opening all of the circuits. The brake will be applied and the car will be held at the fifth floor.

WVhile in this position, :if an occupant on anyfioor of the buildingattempted to move the handle 17 in a clockwise direction, he would, be prevented from so doing by the engagement of: the roller 42 with the cam 43. However, if, forexample, it is desired to return the elevator tothe first floor the handle 17 at any floor may bev turned in a counter-clockwise direction. This will rotate the drum 22 in a counter-clockwise di- 32, 33, 33 34 and 34 willjalso be brought into engagement with the brushes a, a Z), 0 0 and b? respectively. Due to the manner of connecting the pairs of brushes 33-33"and 34-34, it will be obvious that the two phases 6 and c will be reversed,

thereby reversing the direction of rotation of the motor. It all of the gates 36 are closed,this reversed rotationot the mot-or will lower the elevator cage.

cessive opening of the switches 4,3 and 2 will not open the circuit of the electromagnetic device 26, due to the. short cir cuiting connection 57. The travelot the ele-. vator will continue, therefore, until the cam 48 engages the roller 42 on the crank arm 40 and moves it to its fullliue position of Figure 4. This will automatically and Si multaneously restore allol the controlling devices to neutral position and also restore the drum 22 to neutral position for opening all of the circuits. While the elevator remains in this position it will be impos sible to, turn any of thehandles 17 in a counter-clockwise direction. by reason .of the; roller and cam 43, The,.controlling de- The sue-i,

vice can, therefore, at this time only be rotated in such direction, namely, clocki'e'ise, as will effect the upward travel of the cage.

If it is desired to move the cage only to the second, third or any other intermediateposition, the controlling device on any one of the floors will be moved in the desired direction to bring its pointer 18 opposite the number designating the floor at which the cage is to stop. If the cage is at the first floor and the controlling handle of one of the controlling devices is moved clockwise to bring the pointer into registration with the designation for the second floor, the motor circuit will be closed before de scribed, but only the segment 51 will engage the brush 4.4. This will not short circuit any of the switches 2, 3 or 4 and accordingly the cage will move to the second floor, engage switch 2 at said floor and open the circuit of the electromagnetic device 26. This will open the motor circuit and apply the brake, whereby the cage will be held at the second floor. If one of the pointers 18 is moved into the registration for the third floor up the segments 51 and 50 will engage the brushes 1a and a5, thereby short circuiting the switch 2 and permitting the cage to move to the third floor where it will open the switch 3 and break the motor circuit. It will be apparent that each successive movement by one of the controlling handles 17 in a clockwise direction from neutral position will effect a successive short circuiting of the switches 2, 3, and at. On the other hand, each movement of one of the controlling handles from neutral position in a counter-clockwise direction will effect successive short circuiting of switches l, 3 and 2, in the order stated, thereby controlling the descent of the elevator.

The switch drum 22 may conveniently be constructed by applying insulating rings 65 thereto, between which the contact segments are secured. This prevents arcing between the segments and insures efficient operation of the circuit making device. The specific construction of the drum switch, however, is immaterial.

In the construction, heretofore described, it will be apparent there is provided means exterior and independent of the elevator cage for short circuiting any one or more of the floor switches thus causing the cage to stop at the desired floor. This system embodies, however, floorswitches for the intermediate floors only. The first and last floors are controlled by the operation of the mechan ical interlocking device directly through the rollers 4E2. In Figure 7 there is illustrated a slightly modified system adapted for use independently of the mechanical interlock but embodying the idea of short circuiting the floor switches independently of the elevator cage. In this figure the system is illustrated as being used with the same switch drum but the controlling devices only bear indicia for three floors. It will be apparent, however, that the number of floors with which the system maybe utilized maybe increased or decreased at will. In this figure the con struction of the circuit making device is not modified, and therefore the reference characters heretofore used are utilized to designate the respective parts of the present switch in order to avoid prolixity of description. In the circuit 39, however, corresponding to the circuit 39 before described, the floor switches 101, 102 and 103 are located respectively at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fl'oors. With this construction it will be apparentthat the movement of the drum 22 for effecting the short circuiting of the floor switches is relied upon without any mechanical interlock.

In using the present system for passenger elevators it will be obvious that a passenger might open one of the gates 36, then set the controlling device as desired, step into the cage and close the gate. The closing of the gate will in itself automatically control the movement of the cage and such movement will continue until the desired floor is reached.

The advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of means entirely independent of the cage for effecting a con trol of the floor switches, and from the elimination of electrical connections with the cage.

Further advantages arise from the mechanical interlocking means between all of the controlling devices, whereby different devices cannot be set in different positions simultaneously, and whereby the position of the cage may be readily determined.

Still further advantages arise from the provision of means preventing the movement of the controlling devices in one direction when the cage is at the limit of its travel in the corresponding direction.

I claim:

1. In an elevator control, a cage, a plurality of controlling devices for controlling the positioning of the cage and mechanical interlocking connections between said devices, substantially as described.

2. In an elevator control, a cage, a plurality of controlling devices on different floors and operable by persons on said floors for controlling the positioning of the cage, and means for causing movement of one of said devices to be transmitted to the other devices, substantially as described.

3. In an elevator control, a cage, a plurality of controlling devices on different floors for controlling the positioning of the cage, and means for moving all of said devices in unison, substantially as described.

4. In an elevator control, a plurality of controlling devices on different floors, arechanical interlocking connections between said devices, and means preventing the operation of the said devices in one direction when the elevator cage is at either limit of its travel, substantially as described.

5. In an elevator control, a cage, a plurality of controlling devices for controlling the positioning of the cage, mechanical connections between said devices, and a circuit making device actuated by said mechanical connections, substantially as described.

6. In an elevator control, a cage, a plurality oi? controlling devices on diiferent floors for controlling the positioning of the cage, means for causing movement of oneof said devices to be transmitted to the remaining devices, and a circuit making device actuated by said means, substantially as described.

7. In an elevator control, a cage, a plu rality of controlling devices on different floors for controlling the positioning of the cage, means for moving of said devices in unison, and a circuit making device actuated by said means, substantially as described.

8. In an elevator control, a plurality of controlling devices on different floors, mechanical interlocking connections between said devices, means preventing the operation of said devices in one direction when the elevator is at either limit of its travel, and a circuit making device actuated by said interlocking connections, substantially as de scribed.

9. In an elevator control, a cage, a plurality of controlling devices on different floors for controlling the positioning of the cage, means for insuring simultaneous rotation oi all of said devices, and a circuit making device controlled by, said means, substantially as described.

10. In an elevator control, an operating motor, a supply line therefor, a cage operated thereby, a cage operated switch at each floor at which the cage is adapted to stop,

and means independent of the cage for short circuiting said switches, substantially as described.

1.1. In an elevator control, an operating motor, a supply line therefor, a cage operated thereby, a cage operated switch at each floor at which the cage is adapted to stop, and means on each floor independent of the cage for short circuiting said switches, substantially as described.

12. In an elevator control, an operating motor, a supply line therefor, a cage operated thereby, a cage operated switch at each floor at which the cage is adapted to stop, and means independent of the cage for rendering said switches inoperative, substantially as described.

13. In' an elevator control, an operating motor, a supply line therefor, a cage operated thereby, a cage operated switch at each floor at which the cage is adapted to stop, means on each floor independent of the cage for short circuiting said switches, and means independent'of the cage for rendering said switches inoperative, substantially as de-' scribed.

14. In an elevator system, a cage, a motor for operating said cage, a switch adjacent each of a plurality of said floors and adapted to be operated by said cage for rendering the motor inoperative, and means independent of the cage for rendering said switches. ineffective, substantially as described.

15. In an elevator system, a cage, a motor for operating said cage, a switch adjacent each of a plurality of said floors and adaptedv to be operated by said cage for rendering the motor inoperative, means independent oi the cage for rendering said switches ineffective, and interlocking means co-operating with said last mentioned means, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LOUIS DE MARKUS. 

